Chapter 1 :-
I stood at the edge of the woods, my feet poised on the threshold of a journey that would change my life forever. The moon cast its silvery glow over the sleepy town of Eldridge, where the residents slumbered, unaware of the momentous decision that I was about to make.
As I stepped into the woods, the silence enveloped me like a shroud. The trees, ancient and twisted, stood like sentinels, their branches etched against the moonlit sky like a delicate pen and ink drawing. The air was alive with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers and the soft rustle of leaves, which seemed to whisper secrets to each other in the gentle breeze.
From a long time I had always felt a deep connection to this place, where the veil between the worlds seemed to be at its thinnest. It was as if the woods held secrets and mysteries that only revealed themselves to those who dared to venture into their depths, and trees are like one of the oldest living thing ever lived on the Earth.
As I walked deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around me, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.
"Oh....this is something new...."
I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I stood my ground, determined to see this through.
Suddenly, a faint, flickering light appeared in the distance, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding trees.
'what the heck...what is that?" I quickened my pace, my curiosity piqued.
"What is that strange light?"
As I approached the clearing, the light grew brighter, illuminating a figure shrouded in shadows.
"Oh god ,I am not alone here!!"
A presence, both captivating and terrifying, stood before me, its eyes fixed intently on mine.
"Welcome, young seeker," the figure said in a voice that was both melodious and menacing. "I have been waiting for you."
I stood frozen, unsure of what to say or do.
My eyes have never gone this bigger.
The figure, shrouded in shadows, seemed to be studying me, its eyes boring into my very soul.
"Who.....what... are you, exactly?" I finally managed to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.
The figure chuckled, a low, throaty sound that felt so different .
"I am Zareth," it said. "A being from realms beyond your understanding. And you, Nathaniel, are a young man with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for power."
" You are what ? And how do you know my name" this felt unreal , whatever he said !
I felt a wave of temptation wash over me.
Although what power and knowledge was he talking about!
But another part of me, a part that I couldn't quite silence, was screaming in protest.
He was looking like a devil , a dark figure infront of my eyes.
I hope this is one of my bad dream.
A Faustian bargain that would cost me my very soul.
I hesitated, unable to think or to say or to look towards that figure.
It felt like that figure was watching me.
"Take your time, Nathaniel," Zareth said. "But know this: the offer i will give you won't be on the table forever. You must make a decision, and soon."
I took a deep breath, weighing my options. I thought about all the things I could achieve with the power and knowledge that Zareth offered. I thought about the thrill of discovery, the rush of adrenaline as I explored the unknown.
I forgot who i was and kept imagining about the knowledge and power that figured talked about.
But I also thought about the cost. I thought about the weight of my soul, the burden of my conscience. I thought about the consequences of making a deal with a being like Zareth.
As I stood there, frozen in indecision, Zareth spoke again. "Remember, Nathaniel," it said. "The power and knowledge I offer are not to be taken lightly. They come with a price, a price that you must be willing to pay."
My eyes locked onto Zareth's finally and for a moment, we just stared at each other. Then, with a sense of trepidation, I made my decision.
"I'll do it," I said, my voice firm. "I'll make the deal."
What was I even thinking about!!!
Zareth's smile grew wider, its eyes glinting with triumph. "Excellent," it said. "Then let us seal the deal."
As Zareth spoke, the air around me seemed to grow colder, the shadows deepening and twisting into strange, malevolent shapes. I felt like I am going to die , What even happened to me after hearing about knowledge and power , mysterious powers.
With a sense of foreboding, I reached out and took Zareth's hand. As our palms touched, a surge of energy ran through my body, a energy that seemed to course through my very veins.
"IT BURNS LIKE HELLL!"
And in that moment, I knew that I had made a deal that would change my life forever.
I tried to pull my hand back, but Zareth's grip was like a vice. I was trapped.
The pain intensified, and I felt my vision begin to blur. I was being pulled into a vortex, a swirling tunnel of darkness that seemed to have no end.
I heard Zareth's voice, echoing in my mind. "This is the price of power, Nathaniel," it said. "You must pay the cost."
" WHAT PRICE---"
I tried to scream, but my voice was silenced by some unseen force. I was helpless, unable to move or speak.
The vortex pulled me deeper, and I felt my consciousness begin to slip away. I was being consumed by the darkness, eaten alive by the very power that I had sought.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything stopped. The pain ceased, and the vortex dissipated. I was left standing, gasping for breath, with Zareth's hand still clutched in mine.
I looked up at Zareth, and saw that its face had changed. Its eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire, and its skin was deathly pale.
"It is done," Zareth said, its voice low and menacing. "You have made the deal, Nathaniel. You have sold your soul for power."
" SOUL...what?"
I felt a wave of horror wash over me, as I realized what I had done. I had traded my very soul for a chance at power and knowledge.
"Is that a good thing or bad thing to do?"
Zareth released my hand, and I stumbled backward, gasping for breath. I looked down at my palm, and saw that it was branded with a strange symbol, a mark that seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy.
I knew then that I was forever changed, that I had crossed a threshold from which there was no return. I was no longer human, but a vessel for some dark and ancient power.
And as I looked up at Zareth, I knew that I was doomed to serve it, to do its bidding for all eternity. I was a slave to the darkness, a pawn in a game of cosmic horror.
The realization was crushing, and I felt my mind begin to unravel. I was consumed by a madness of despair, a sense of hopelessness that seemed to have no end.
And as I stood there, frozen in terror, Zareth spoke again. "You will do great things, Nathaniel," it said. "You will bring darkness and chaos to the world. And you will do it all in my name."
" This is not what i agreed to do!!"
I screamed , a scream that was drowned out by the sound of my own madness. I was lost, forever trapped in a living nightmare of my own creation.
And as the darkness closed in around me, I knew that I was doomed to spend eternity in the service of the evil that I had unleashed upon the world.